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Published on:

21st Jun 2024

Sean Quinn

Bobby and Jens return with EF Education's newly crowned US National Champ Sean Quinn as he discusses his incredible season so far... and his ambitions for the future.

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Image of Sean provided by Harry Talbot (Instagram: @visualsofharry)

Transcript
Speaker:

Hello

everyone, and welcome to the Odd Tandem.

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The Odd Tandem is

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a brand new name for our podcast,

and you may know us by another name,

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so we just want to say thank you to Velo

for a great three years of support.

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we've seen many messages

that you guys have sent us over

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the last couple of months

since our final episode in, in February.

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We're really sorry that we couldn't

get up and running again

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so quickly, but, honestly,

we needed a little break as well.

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Jensie Right?

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We did? Yes.

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And we actually did give it

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a quite serious consideration

about whether we gonna come back.

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If we want to come back, we can come back.

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How we come back and what did work.

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And if it's the right

decision to come back or not.

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Yeah.

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It wasn't easy.

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I mean, something as little as changing

a name took us very, very long time.

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And there's a lot of stuff to think about

when starting a podcast.

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yeah. This is this is new.

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Like, we're we're winging this.

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We're on our own now,

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so we still gonna have

the same great podcast

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like you folks used to know

what one weekly episode we will have.

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Plus,

you will get a bonus two podcast per month

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where we actually just

answer your questions so

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you get more to know about Bobby and me,

about our experience, about our stories.

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On top of that, we are launching

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a Patreon where you can join for $5

and you will get

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a little bit

more bits and pieces from our podcast.

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And you know,

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although

this tandem bicycle is built for two,

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the odd tandem community

is built for everyone, and we've included

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some very special people

in building this new podcast.

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We have, Taylor Phinney,

who has done the soundtrack for us.

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Everybody knows Taylor.

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We're big fans of Taylor.

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And by the way, congratulate.

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Congratulations, Taylor.

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on the marriage to Kasia Niewiadoma,

and Jim Dwyer,

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who used to make the the GCN race images.

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He's done our pod art.

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So, you know, we're trying to engage

as many people

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in cycling into this

and including some great guests.

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So we're going to be starting from scratch

and hang with us.

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We're going to have a great ride.

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But, you know, don't worry, we're going

to have the same sort of great interviews.

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They they're going to go nowhere

We're going to add some little bits

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and bobs here and there, maybe

even an extra segment during the week.

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So, let's get this first episode

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of the odd tandem started with our U.S.

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road champion, Sean Quinn.

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All right.

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Welcome, Sean Quinn to the odd tandem.

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Sean, how are you doing, man? Good.

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Thanks for having me, guys.

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fan of the podcast and,

yeah, really happy to be on.

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So I look forward to.

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Yeah.

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Well, if you haven't noticed,

we've changed our name.

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the odd tandem is a community

built for everyone.

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And our first guest is you.

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Sean, tell us a little bit

about what it means to you to be

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national road champion.

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Yeah,

I think it's, it's a pretty big honor.

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It's, a good achievement.

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I think the coolest part is being able

to represent the country,

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even when you're racing for your tri team.

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So you get to wear the jersey

for the whole year.

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and yeah, it was also really special

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when I was a junior,

I think nationals was always

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one of the biggest races, but I never

I never was able to win.

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And so yeah, to finally win

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as a pro was, even extra special.

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And yeah, it's,

it's not necessarily a crazy achievement,

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but to me, it's, it's really cool

being able to race in the jersey

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and yeah, represent my country every day

when I, when I got out of training.

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So yeah, super happy with it.

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And is it true that the American champion,

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the rider himself has,

a word to say about the design of it?

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Because for us in Germany, it's standard.

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It has to be white and,

the three colors as a chest on the chest.

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But that's about it.

You cannot change anything.

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How is it for you?

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Is it true that you can change the design?

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I think there's,

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a rule that you have to have the blue.

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Blue with the stars on the shoulders

and then the rest red and white stripes.

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But I don't know, ifs

pretty artsy sometimes,

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and they did a pretty interesting design.

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I don't I don't really get a say in it.

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Maybe I will next year like, for 2025,

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but, yeah, I'm happy with the design.

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It's not it's not super standard

like the German kit.

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yeah.

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It's got some cool prints

that if you're up close, you can see.

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So it's nice.

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Well, hey, man,

I mean, I'm jealous, number one,

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because I was never national champion

as a pro.

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I think my last national champion

kit was like,

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1617 cyclocross and, Shoot,

I would trade

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20 of those in to be be able to wear the

the stars and stripes in the pro peloton.

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So good on you.

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But talk us a little bit through that race

because, I mean,

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you were in the breakaway

with Nielsen and,

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your, your old buddy, Mr.

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McNulty

and you guys worked him over pretty good.

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But, you know, what were the tactics like?

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Was it, I was under the impression

that you guys didn't have radios, but

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then I saw some social media that you guys

did actually have radio contact.

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talk us

through, like, once you guys got away

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and you guys were tag team

and, poor Brandon there.

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what what actually happened? What?

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How to come down to the

the final outcome there?

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Yeah. So we did have radios.

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We had, the women's director, Carmen

Small in the car, and she was helping us.

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But to be honest,

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there's not there's not a ton to say

when it's just the two of us.

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And we went in with the plan.

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It was like,

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yeah, just kind of make the race

hard, jump in moves and eventually

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it's going to end up the two of us

and Brandon and it it happened that way.

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There was this other guy,

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domestic pro Scott McGill, for a while,

and he hung pretty well.

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But, yeah, the last 2 or 3 laps,

it was just the two of us.

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And yeah, we talked it over before

and we were like, yeah, on the on

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the flat part, we just have to take turns

tag teaming him.

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And yeah, it's

basically the math just worked out

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that he, he ended up in the wind twice

as much as either of us.

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So yeah, we're both super fresh.

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And then on the last lap

there are two climbs.

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We both we I attacked on one,

Neilson attacked on the other.

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But props to Brandon. He was super strong.

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I mean, he wrote us back

time and time again and then

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yeah,

once, once we got over all the climbs, I.

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I just backed my sprint

and waited for the line.

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So it did it ever cross your mind

that in a situation like that,

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if the single rider is not absolutely

superior and can drop both of you,

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he then decides who will be champion

because he goes, okay, I'm alone.

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they are two

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I can mess up one’s chances,

but I can’t mess up both of their chances.

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So I guess Brandon could decide, okay, I'm

going to block him

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and I hope it's the right choice

for Brandon

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or I'm gonna sit on his wheel and hope

this is the right choice.

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Did that ever cross your mind?

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Yeah, definitely.

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I mean, there are also ways

we can get up, you know?

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I mean, well, like,

every time I attacked, I was like, wow.

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I mean, now it's it's really just 1V1.

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And if he brings me back at the perfect

time, then, you know, maybe

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maybe he will, he will be Neilson

and I'll be completely smoked.

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So there are ways for him to win

and, Yeah, like you said,

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he he does have a choice.

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And, maybe, maybe that's the reason I'm

national champ.

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Maybe he has some beef with Nielsen

that I don't know about, but

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I don't think I don't think

that's the case.

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I think he did his best to beat

both of us.

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And he came. He came super close.

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so, yeah,

that that just makes me think, like,

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what was your relationship

with Brandon before the race,

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and has it changed?

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since then?

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No, we're we're buddies and I don't think

that race changed anything.

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I mean, at the end of the day, it's like.

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Yeah, I mean, you almost feel bad

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sometimes just going to against

one in a race like that.

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It's it's not exactly fair.

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But, yeah, he he's a good guy.

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We've been teammates since, or I guess

we were teammates when we were juniors.

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And so I've known him for a long time,

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and I think, yeah, all the Americans

in the world tour peloton,

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we all know each other and get along

pretty well. So.

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And, is it still ever known then?

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one of these, special moments

when you, like, just go out training

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and you put on the national champion,

could you go, damn, this is cool.

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You know, like weeks or months after you

go, damn, I still love it.

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Do you still have these moments or.

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Well, it's just a kit I put on and go

riding in races or training.

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Yeah.

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I mean, it's only been, I guess

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exactly about a month, so.

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I mean, I didn't

even get the kit the day after, so

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it still feels pretty special

to pull it on.

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We'll see.

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Ask me again in 11 months, but,

I can't see, can't see.

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Getting tired of it, to be honest.

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and yeah, change is always nice.

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and yeah, randomly you'll just be riding

and look down and be like,

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oh, yeah, that's that's sick.

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I'm representing the US.

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We have

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a couple junior national championships,

around the green...

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champions around the Greenville area.

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And it just seems like

every rider, every event,

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I see them out, they have like

one more thing, you know, socks,

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gloves, little stickers, stuff like that.

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what kind of other cool schwag

has, has popped into your, ensemble,

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your riding ensemble

since you've been become

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national champion?

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Nothing yet, so.

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Oh, man, I always swore

if I was national champion, I'd get, like,

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stars and stripes, boxers, sweat

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bands like, you know,

I'm still fighting for the package.

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We'll see.

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We'll see when it comes,

I don't know, we'll get all.

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Vaughters will text Vaughters after this

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and make sure he hooks you up

or something.

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Yeah, yeah.

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I mean,

I haven't been chirping them at all.

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I'm just.

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I believe they're doing it as fast

as I can, but maybe I'm just being naive,

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and they're just like, yeah, here's

one jersey that should do for 12 months.

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They will for sure have.

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It'll be more

so now that you won the nationals.

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That's one box ticked.

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looking a little further into the future

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and what type of rider you want to develop

or where do you see your future?

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You want to try?

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GC and I don't know, in a Dauphiné,

in the Grand Tour one day

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races, the hilly classics, the cobblestone

classics, more time trialing.

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Where do you think you want to go

with your national champion jersey? No.

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Yeah, well,

I know I want to be a GC rider.

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at the end of the day,

I don't know how far my talent

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is going to take me,

but I'm willing to sacrifice, you know?

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Yeah, maybe being a better sprinter

and being able to win

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some one day races if, if I can at least

try and become a Grand Tour other

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I'm still young

that I still have some time, you know,

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maybe I'm not that young for the sport

anymore, but, I think for...

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Yeah, like I said, for me

it's worth it to just try and see

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and and I do think that's

where my talents lie.

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And like, the longer climbs and.

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Yeah, maybe one day time traveling,

I still have a lot of work to do.

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And in both those categories,

and just developing in general.

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But, that's, that's the, the racing

I dream of is, the Grand Tours.

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That's

what gets me on the bike every morning

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talking about this great achievement.

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You know, this achievement

almost didn't happen because you were one

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of the riders that were involved

in that very serious crash in Pay Basque.

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I read that you suffered, a concussion

and a sternum fracture.

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How did you pop up from that so well?

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And be able to come back in

and win the national championships?

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Yeah, it's pretty interesting.

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I think I've talked about this

with a few people and

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when you have an injury like that.

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Yeah, it's super hard, but it's pretty

clear the path you have to take.

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You know, it's like all right,

I need to do this rehab.

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I need to take this amount of time off.

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I need to every day. You just do.

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You know, you just check check the box,

and you're not really training too much

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at first.

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And, yeah, I found it was really easy

to build up momentum from that injury.

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You know,

you go to such a a rock bottom almost,

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and it's like, you can't you can't ride.

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I was supposed to do the Giro.

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So that's out the window.

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And I don't even know. Yeah.

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Can I ride what

what's the extent of this fracture etc..

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And, you know, when you're at

such a low point, every step,

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you just,

you just build a ton of momentum.

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And by the time I got back training,

which luckily was super fast,

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I mean, I was just doing everything

right, basically, in my opinion.

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And,

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yeah, you know,

I just got momentum pretty quick.

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And then I didn't have a ton

of expectations going into nationals.

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I mean, I knew I was riding super well,

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but racing is a whole different beast

sometimes.

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but yeah,

it didn't seem like that crazy to me.

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to be competitive right away.

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and like I said,

I think that's from the momentum

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of having such a low point.

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so now you, both mentioned

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or you talked about that crash

in the Basque Country,

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and your teammate Neilson Powlesss,

he was another bigger crash.

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And the Dauphiné

was also a lot of GC rider.

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Some of them are the same from the crash

in a Basque country.

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Do you think they're just

a really weird coincidence,

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or did something change in the last 1

or 2 years?

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In cycling, people are writing harder,

more aggressive?

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Or was it

just a really bizarre coincidence

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that we had two big crashes

with a lot of GC contenders?

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Whether it's the GC contenders

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crashing or anyone else crashing,

I don't know.

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Maybe that's a coincidence, but

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I think we're going to see more

and more big crashes.

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I hate to say it,

but the way guys are racing,

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I mean, for for guys who have been pro

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for ten, 15 years,

I think they really see the change.

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For me, it's I'm pretty new,

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so I've been racing with a lot

of these guys who are taking more risks.

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The young guys who are, you know, pushing

those limits even further.

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I've been racing with them for since I was

a junior, so it's not that new to me.

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But even two years ago, three years ago,

when I first

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turned pro, there was,

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I don't know.

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I don't know if respect is the right word,

but there was a lot more.

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Yeah.

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It was it was just a lot more chill

sometimes in the peloton.

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And we have these days

now where, you know, it's

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not even a super decisive GC day,

but all the directors are saying,

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you know, there's a narrow bridge coming

or there's, technical descent coming.

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And every single team has like, yeah,

they just have these riders who are like,

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all right, well obviously we're going

to be the first team into that.

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And I think all 20-25 teams

have the same goal.

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And it's just simple.

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Like we don't fit on the road.

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And so we're all riding.

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I mean, yeah,

centimeters away from each other.

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And it's kind of bound to happen.

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Of course.

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definitely.

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The, the what? Roads or slippery roads.

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That was like an unfortunate situation.

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But I think you're always going to have

that,

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error

from like, the environment or the course.

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And now we're just riding so close

from like 80kms out,

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we'll just be, I mean, completely blocked.

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Like, it'll be we'll everyone's riding

15 wide the first ten rows or something.

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And, yeah, it is pretty crazy,

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but it's kind of what you have to do

because.

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Yeah. Flick or be flicked. Yes.

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Yeah.

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If you're not moving

up you're moving back in the peloton.

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But so I had an interesting weekend.

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last weekend I was doing a gravel event,

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and I wound up crashing and,

Yeah, pretty hard.

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And I got a concussion

and, on the side of the road,

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I took out my phone, and I called my wife

and passed the phone to Ben Renkema,

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who was one of the race promoter promoters

that was, following us on a motorcycle.

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And then for some reason, I took

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that phone, pointed it at myself

and kind of,

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I don't know if it was a,

a coaching moment, a journal or whatnot,

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but I, I actually admitted to myself

that, hey, I'm concussed right now.

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And I wound up

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sitting on the side of the road

waiting for a SAG car to come

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pick me up and take me to the finish line

for 45 minutes.

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And I don't remember any of that, but

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I made six videos, basically saying

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the exact same thing to myself

or to the camera.

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then when I got in the car,

which was a 30 minute drive

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that felt like 30s, it was, I made another

5 or 6 of the basically the same video.

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So I was out of it, and I'm really glad

that I did that for myself

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more than anything,

because it really made me

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realize what you guys and girls

are having to deal with

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along the side of the road

after a crash like,

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can you explain a little bit

about the concussion protocol,

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the questions that they ask you

or what they wait to see?

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response wise

before you're allowed back on your bike?

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Because honestly, if I didn't make those

videos, I wouldn't have remembered it.

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But looking back at those videos,

if I was to get back on my bike,

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if I hadn't have

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crunched my collarbone in four places,

I probably would have tried to get back

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on my bike.

But it wouldn't have been safe.

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Right?

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Yeah. I,

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I've never been in a race and had a crash

and done the concussion protocol,

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so the advice country

was, like, immediately clear to me.

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I stood up and,

my vision went blurry and I was like,

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okay, I'm concussed 100%.

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and then, of course,

you go and do, a protocol with the team

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doctor after the race,

which I think I've done before

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in crashes, but I've never done with like,

the race doctor, I've heard you.

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You have to clear concussion protocol

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if you have a bad crash and hit your head.

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But I think the the ruling

there is pretty unclear.

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I know this guy, James Knox,

who, tore down under,

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stopped, crashed, hit his head

and did the concussion protocol.

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But then he was like 20 minutes behind.

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So, he got thrown out of the race

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for drafting an ambulance or something,

which to me is ridiculous.

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It's like, okay, he's going to do the

concussion protocol because

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you say you have to, but then

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you're going to throw him out of the race

when he's 20 minutes back.

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So that didn't make sense to me.

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Yeah, that's

that's what I don't understand,

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because I would have had to have gone

through that concussion protocol

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for at least an hour

and a half, maybe two hours.

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And then if I, you know, obviously

you're not going to do that in a race.

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So, you know, when we hear about this

and when we see it,

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I just wonder if it's really, helpful.

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obviously it's been a long time

since I crashed.

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I think 2006 was the last time

that I had a serious crash.

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So it was it was just it just reminded me

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of what you you guys have to deal with.

384

:

And, I hope we can come up

with a better way, because.

385

:

Yeah,

if you're going to do it right and you,

386

:

you know, have to pace to get back

on, you know that that seems fair.

387

:

But, getting kicked out of the race

or getting kicked

388

:

out of the race for for drafting

doesn't doesn't sound right to me at all.

389

:

But thanks for putting my, for explaining

that a little bit, because obviously,

390

:

you know, when that happened to me,

it was, that question came right

391

:

to the front of my mind, and I'm glad

that you were able to answer it.

392

:

Yeah, I think there are actually helmets

393

:

or helmets, sensors that will tell you,

like how hard their impact was.

394

:

I think they use them

in some other sports, and I always thought

395

:

that that could be interesting.

396

:

I've seen some other riders

talking about,

397

:

maybe having those on on our helmets.

398

:

That would probably help,

but I don't see, a lot of effort

399

:

from the riders

or the UCI to to get that done. So

400

:

when I earlier this year, I

401

:

had a little meeting

with Eurosport commentators at the UCI,

402

:

they were trying to explain

that a little bit to us as well.

403

:

And they said what they want

is that even the non-medical part

404

:

of the team to mechanics, the masseuses,

get like at least a basic training.

405

:

So if a rider cannot even walk straight

that they would then say, hey, look,

406

:

why don't you just sit down and wait

407

:

and I get the team doctor

or the race doctor to you?

408

:

They cannot stop you

because you don't have the medical

409

:

knowledge or the official medical title

410

:

to say, hey, in my authority as a doctor,

I make you stop.

411

:

But you were pretty sure of the

after your crash.

412

:

Like, okay, I cannot walk straight.

413

:

My vision is not good.

414

:

I got to be concussed.

415

:

So that's fair

enough for me, I guess. Then.

416

:

Yeah,

417

:

that's the first thing I said to someone

when they came to check on me.

418

:

It was like, hey, I have a concussion. So.

419

:

It's good that you admitted that.

420

:

yeah.

421

:

Because normally people

422

:

just jump back on their bikes and they're,

they're they're off and running again.

423

:

But other than, you know, this,

this pressure

424

:

to be in the front of the peloton and,

you know, maybe misrepresent

425

:

or be a little bit dishonest with,

you know, a concussion.

426

:

What what other sort of pressures do you

young riders have to deal with

427

:

in the peloton nowadays?

428

:

Because it just seems like a totally

different sport when I'm watching it on TV

429

:

and I'm reading things on the internet

and social media,

430

:

you guys definitely have, a lot more

to think about them than we did.

431

:

It seems.

432

:

I'm not sure about that, actually, but,

433

:

you could be right.

434

:

I mean, I think for most athletes,

probably

435

:

the biggest pressure

is usually going to come from themselves.

436

:

and so I think it's kind of different

for everyone

437

:

how much, how much pressure

they're putting on themselves.

438

:

I think the one big difference

with young riders now is probably

439

:

you're expected to win

if if you have the talent,

440

:

you're expected to win

basically from almost your first race,

441

:

or at least be competitive.

442

:

And I think before

443

:

there was a lot of,

444

:

oh, we'll send you to this race

so you can learn or so you can develop

445

:

and you see it with some guys, but

446

:

yeah, if you're over 20 now, I think

447

:

like it seems

448

:

like you're coming in and,

and you have a job to do, you know,

449

:

which is good, but,

yeah, it will be interesting

450

:

to see the effects of,

you know, this generation, our guys

451

:

going to retire much earlier because

they didn't have as much time to develop.

452

:

And straight away

it was like, okay, I'm going to,

453

:

you know, racing

GC at these massive WorldTour races.

454

:

so it'll be interesting to see.

455

:

But,

yeah, I can't speak on the difference

456

:

in in generations per se, but,

one thing we touched on in former

457

:

episodes is how much quicker

458

:

or faster the nutrition pot has developed.

459

:

So now, I think I've seen pictures

and I've heard rumors.

460

:

People actually bring a scale to dinner

and wait, the slices of tomatoes.

461

:

Is that true?

462

:

And are you one of these poor

young men have to do that.

463

:

How does that feel?

You have to wait your food.

464

:

Because back in my days,

if somebody touched my food

465

:

or meat me wait my food,

I would offer them a proper beating.

466

:

But that's the audience.

467

:

You know, I'm not saying it was better

or worse back then, just different.

468

:

So how is it for you?

469

:

Do you wait your food and count

your calories every day?

470

:

I would say

471

:

most days at a race for sure.

472

:

A lot of days. I've tried.

473

:

See it?

474

:

The thing is, once you start, it's almost

475

:

it's almost impossible to go back.

476

:

And it's it's difficult,

477

:

it's difficult to see other kids

478

:

doing it or other other riders doing it

and then not do it yourself,

479

:

because if if it is really helping,

480

:

which I think science would say it is,

481

:

you don't want to just be giving

482

:

that up and say, okay, well,

that guy's crazy.

483

:

He's weighing his food.

484

:

I'm sure people, people said that 3

or 4 years ago, that guy's crazy.

485

:

He weighs every every tomato.

486

:

But now more and more guys start to do it.

487

:

And all of a sudden

the majority is weighing for sure.

488

:

Now, the majority of of guys in

the peloton, they're weighing their food.

489

:

And,

yeah, I mean, I feel like even if I skip

490

:

one day, I'm like, well, like, did it,

what am I?

491

:

What am I losing on this day?

492

:

okay, I'm not maybe that extreme, but

and for sure, parts of the year.

493

:

you can't do it every day.

494

:

I'm sure there are some guys

who do it every day, but

495

:

I don't know how much that's

helping them at that point.

496

:

but, yeah, it's getting pretty extreme,

I think.

497

:

Yeah. Also on the bike, nutrition,

498

:

it's just crazy.

499

:

yeah.

500

:

Smashing through carbs

and stuff like that. So.

501

:

Yeah.

502

:

to go back a little bit,

do not mess with the ends.

503

:

His food.

504

:

I had them stay at my house

505

:

a couple times, and, man,

that guy can can knock it, knock it down

506

:

and then seen portioned out,

personal portioned out,

507

:

you know, pre-made little bowls

508

:

for each rider or weigh in your food.

509

:

it's it's got to be tough.

510

:

But one of the things that I think

really makes a difference,

511

:

you know, we have all these data streams

and we can weigh our food

512

:

and we can have the faster bike

or the more aerodynamic suit.

513

:

I think one of the most important things

for, for riders to have is confidence.

514

:

And as we know, confidence is a

very is a very fickle thing, right?

515

:

It can change,

you know, from minute to minute, hour

516

:

to hour, day

to day, month to month, season to season.

517

:

What does being confident

mean to you and and how you race?

518

:

Yeah, I've I've gone back and forth.

519

:

Sometimes I think, okay,

520

:

this race is all physical and at the end

of the day I either have it or I don't.

521

:

And then I've gone through phases

where I think like, oh,

522

:

this sport is all mental.

523

:

And like, if if I go into a race

with the confidence, I'll get it done,

524

:

no problem.

525

:

And, you see that with the top guys,

you know, like,

526

:

yes, they probably are better

than everyone else, but

527

:

maybe not.

528

:

Maybe not as much as we think,

but they just consistently win.

529

:

And so they have that confidence.

530

:

yeah.

531

:

If I need to be in front at that point,

I will be in front.

532

:

They don't question themselves

and they just get it done.

533

:

And yeah, I think that's

534

:

I mean, you can't put a number

on that metric, right?

535

:

It's

536

:

it's just something you

537

:

have or you don't day to day

it comes and goes, which is interesting.

538

:

And that's why.

539

:

Yeah, you need you need momentum.

540

:

but it is interesting

with all these numbers,

541

:

the weighing of the food, the power, the

542

:

whatever.

543

:

everyone

I think the, the playing field, like,

544

:

there's not that much room for error

if everyone's doing the,

545

:

the perfect nutrition,

if everyone has the perfect race suit,

546

:

perfect bike,

everything, it's going to come down to

547

:

whoever is the most talented

and whoever is the most mentally strong

548

:

or like the best,

the most skilled cyclist.

549

:

because there's

going to be less room for error.

550

:

So I don't know if that makes it more

boring

551

:

or more interesting, but.

552

:

Well, I must say,

as I'm commentating for Eurosport.

553

:

Cycling, I would say

we live in a golden era of cycling.

554

:

Cycling is so thrilling and exciting,

you know,

555

:

with team Sky,

like, let's say, ten years ago.

556

:

They would, just drill it on a front

and nobody could even attack.

557

:

Nowadays, people have 50-60 kilometer

solo rider attacks and they pull it off.

558

:

So it's it's pretty interesting.

559

:

Erm, talking of confidence.

560

:

I always used to tell myself,

okay, I'm a very good rider.

561

:

If I suffer, gotta suffer twice as much.

562

:

You know, I just talked myself into it,

you know that.

563

:

Okay. They’re only human.

564

:

They’re must suffer as well.

565

:

Just, you know, not showing it.

566

:

And I believe once or twice I won a race

567

:

just because I wanted it

more than the others.

568

:

Not really, because I was,

but I had races of that as well.

569

:

But sometimes I just wanted it more.

570

:

But I'm for, you know, you about the age

571

:

range of Vingegaard, Pogacar, Evenepoel

572

:

How is it to race with them?

573

:

I mean, you know, I guess we must say

574

:

the, superstars of our sport.

575

:

How is it to have to race against them?

576

:

Because,

you know, let's not fool ourselves.

577

:

Something like an easy race

doesn't exist anymore, right?

578

:

In modern cycling?

579

:

Easy races, small races

don't exist anymore.

580

:

Everything's important.

Everything is full gas.

581

:

So how do you approach your day

when you know you got whatever, Evenepoel,

582

:

Vingegaard or Pogacar at the start

you go, I race for second or you go.

583

:

Now I don't think like that.

584

:

I go for the win.

585

:

Yeah, I would say it depends on the race.

586

:

depends on like the course.

587

:

Sometimes you probably should reframe

your objectives.

588

:

You know, I'm sure a lot of guys

who lined up at the Giro,

589

:

if they were telling themselves,

590

:

yeah, I'm going to win this Giro,

like 100%.

591

:

by day five, when they were

592

:

ten minutes down to pick after,

they probably, you know,

593

:

mentally folded, whereas other guys

who were like, yeah, all right.

594

:

Well, we're racing for a second.

595

:

Maybe they were just consistent

the whole time.

596

:

And, did well.

597

:

But I think,

598

:

yeah, a lot of days

you have to believe that

599

:

upsets do happen and you see it sometimes.

600

:

I mean, a guy like Pogacar has,

almost not lost this season.

601

:

And that's pretty incredible. But,

602

:

you know, on any given day, any

anyone can win.

603

:

And I think most, most pro cyclists

604

:

have that mentality

that, you know, I'm going to do my best.

605

:

And on the day when everything falls

my way, I will take that chance.

606

:

Because those chances don't come around

too often in this sport because,

607

:

you know, it's not one team wins,

one team loses.

608

:

It's one guy wins 150 guys lose.

609

:

yeah. Yeah.

610

:

Well, you said before we started recording

that you're based out of Nice.

611

:

What brought you to the Cote d'Azur?

612

:

Because so many other riders

from EF Education Easy Post.

613

:

Live in Girona. What?

614

:

What was it that drew you to the south

of France, which, you know, I loved?

615

:

I was based out of there.

616

:

I couldn't have

lived anywhere else either.

617

:

Yeah.

618

:

I mean,

I lived in Girona for a little bit,

619

:

and that was nice

because the team was kind of based there.

620

:

and I had quite a few friends there.

621

:

I lived there as well

when I was on a development team, and,

622

:

then when I turned pro,

a lot of my friends

623

:

left, went back to the States,

stopped cycling, stuff like that.

624

:

And so I started to feel like,

all right, I've, I've already done Girona

625

:

a couple of years.

626

:

Might as well change it up.

627

:

And my friend

628

:

bought an apartment here actually,

he had lived here for a couple of years.

629

:

Matteo Jorgensen and,

he was like, yeah, my roommates

630

:

moving out, so want to come pay

my mortgage, basically.

631

:

And so I'm living with him now. no.

632

:

And that's been fun.

633

:

Wow. That is that is totally awesome.

634

:

I was going to say, hey,

do you see Pogacar around?

635

:

But damn, you're roommates with Mateo.

636

:

That's a pretty damn good person

to look up to.

637

:

That was kind of leading

into my next question is, you know, like

638

:

you're an American

living in the south of France.

639

:

obviously a very, very difficult sport.

640

:

A very challenging sport.

641

:

who do you look up to?

642

:

Who do you lean on to ask those questions

that you don't know the answer to

643

:

in the in the peloton is there

644

:

is there some guy that is just like

your buddy, your your your Jedi master?

645

:

For I think I tend to not,

646

:

not just like ask people

for a ton of advice and maybe it's not.

647

:

Maybe it's not a good trait,

but I like to see

648

:

most most guys

as my rivals in the peloton.

649

:

So I don't want to be like, asking them

questions and looking up to them.

650

:

I want to be racing against them.

651

:

but yeah,

652

:

there are a few guys I'd say I look up to.

653

:

I mean, Matteo, to me, it's obviously he's

doing a lot better than I am right

654

:

now, but, we've always been kind of,

you know, we've grown up together.

655

:

We were competitors

then. We were teammates.

656

:

And so he's not really, like, necessarily

a role model.

657

:

He's just like a friend.

658

:

So I feel totally comfortable

asking him questions.

659

:

And he and he has helped me a lot.

660

:

guys I look up to,

661

:

to be honest, it's more I,

I like the guys who carry themselves

662

:

super well and are, you know,

not just machines on the bike.

663

:

Like, those guys can be cool, but

664

:

sometimes the, the human side isn't there.

665

:

So like a guy like Tao or Geraint

Thomas, like,

666

:

yeah, I would, I would love

to go get a beer with those guys.

667

:

whereas some of the guys

who are winning right now,

668

:

they don't seem super interesting to me

necessarily.

669

:

And maybe that's

670

:

maybe that's just me.

671

:

not seeing past the surface, but,

672

:

Yeah, if if your whole personality

is weighing your tomatoes on the scale

673

:

and then talking about all the races

you've won, then no,

674

:

I don't really need to hang out with you.

675

:

So that is a very good approach to it.

676

:

And if you want to win the Tour de France,

677

:

remember these words

and then you don't become one of them.

678

:

You go now I never forget my roots.

679

:

I never forget where they came from.

680

:

And, my friends,

that's a very good approach.

681

:

you had, last year

682

:

after the Vuelta Some interesting words.

683

:

I can just quickly read it.

684

:

you told the team I was humbled

with the level of the guys here.

685

:

I know that I was on the stage

against the best of the world,

686

:

but I really thought

I didn't have the physical form this year.

687

:

so it was a, good learning tool,

a good experience.

688

:

And,

it's a necessary step for my development.

689

:

Your first Grand Tour experience.

690

:

What did you learn?

691

:

What did you change over last?

692

:

over the last winter

to learn from that painful experience

693

:

at your first grand tour?

694

:

How do you change

your training after that?

695

:

Yeah, well, the difficult thing is,

696

:

sometimes you can't make drastic changes,

697

:

and you kind of just have to let the, like

698

:

try and set everything up to do it

as well as you can.

699

:

But then you sometimes just have to let

the system run for a while to catch up.

700

:

You know, I've I've always tried

to think of the way you can.

701

:

I don't know,

702

:

make massive leaps overnight from like,

703

:

yeah,

if I lose five kilos I'll be 10% better.

704

:

But sometimes it doesn't work like that.

705

:

And yeah, I've had to,

706

:

kind of be patient sometimes when,

707

:

you know, I,

708

:

I didn't want to, you know, of course

I'd love to be competitive tomorrow,

709

:

but maybe it's going to be two years from

now, and I have to accept that

710

:

and kind of take my time.

711

:

I think this winter.

712

:

Yeah.

713

:

I tried to dial in the nutrition more and,

714

:

yeah, maybe train,

715

:

train more, but small changes, you know,

716

:

at the end of the day,

it's it's more about getting older,

717

:

getting getting those big races and,

and then hopefully

718

:

I can grow from there.

719

:

That that's great.

720

:

I totally back that up.

721

:

You know, when, when you see guys

722

:

jumping from rock to rock

before something actually has time to,

723

:

you know, you lay the roots

and then you cut,

724

:

cut the plant before the leaves grow,

you know, and then jump to something else.

725

:

So I suggest you stick with that,

you know, come up with a plan, plan

726

:

your work, work your plan

and see it to fruition,

727

:

instead of

just jumping from rock to rock.

728

:

But, you know, we're at that time of year

right now.

729

:

and talking about Grand Tours,

730

:

do you have the possibility,

are you on the tour de France long team?

731

:

Are you sweating it out?

732

:

There are knees waiting for that phone

call to pack your suitcase

733

:

and head to Florence

here in a couple weeks.

734

:

So I, I'm actually.

735

:

Can I just turn a light on real quick

because that's getting done.

736

:

Yeah. Yeah, we noticed that.

737

:

yeah. everything

is about the color of your shirt now.

738

:

It's turning more and more painted black

as the Rolling Stones would sing.

739

:

All right. Hey, you're good looking

young man.

740

:

I never noticed

it was so dark all the time, too.

741

:

Awesome. Yeah.

742

:

Cheers for that fantastic.

743

:

yeah. Literally sweating it out.

744

:

Actually, it's it's quite hot here

now, but,

745

:

I am waiting for selection.

746

:

they still haven't told us yet.

747

:

but of course, since.

748

:

Yeah, like I said,

I was supposed to do the Giro, but

749

:

basically the day I crashed, it was like,

all right, I want to go to the tour.

750

:

How do I get there?

751

:

yeah,

752

:

I don't know.

753

:

I think going to nationals

and winning really helped me, but,

754

:

I was yeah, I got sick at the dolphin and

755

:

I had a bit of a rough week there,

so I'm not for sure not a shoo

756

:

in, but I'm hoping hoping I can go

because, you know, it's my dream race.

757

:

Of course.

758

:

So what would be, the team goal

759

:

or team strategy going into the tour?

760

:

For example, with you,

you would have a designated leader,

761

:

you would go for stage

hunting in breakaways, or you have roughly

762

:

an idea of what,

what the team would try to,

763

:

to do.

764

:

I really don't know.

765

:

I think a lot of it hinges on how Richard

766

:

Carapaz

after his crash in the Tour de Suisse.

767

:

because I think, realistically, he's

the only guy who would go for GC.

768

:

Whether he wants to or can.

769

:

That's probably up to.

770

:

Yeah.

771

:

Him and the team in the next,

in the next week to decide,

772

:

but yeah,

773

:

I figure

my role would either be helping him

774

:

in the mountains or, going for stages

775

:

out of breakaways.

776

:

Yeah.

777

:

We need to see the US national champion

jersey in the tour de France this year.

778

:

That's always, always something special.

779

:

It'll give you wings.

780

:

how about, Olympic, selection?

781

:

I mean, not only this year,

782

:

but the Olympics

going to be in Los Angeles in:

783

:

And you're from Los Angeles.

784

:

are the Olympics on your horizon?

785

:

They are not in Paris.

786

:

I, spoke with the director.

787

:

Of course I wanted to go, but,

788

:

yeah, I, I shouldn't be there.

789

:

I didn't have the

the season I wanted to, and,

790

:

and, yeah,

I think the team they're sending will be

791

:

the best team. The best team they can.

792

:

So, of course

793

:

LA that's that's a big goal for me.

794

:

but it's so far down the line.

795

:

I have to find some stuff

to look forward to in between, but, Yeah.

796

:

born and raised in LA so, for sure.

797

:

I want to be there.

798

:

So, how easy or difficult

is it to start cycling in LA?

799

:

Because if I remember LA traffic

jams on all six lanes,

800

:

standing still even at midnight,

everything standing still.

801

:

How is it to be a cyclist, dear?

802

:

And has it improved, too,

to have more bike lanes or little parks

803

:

where kids can go on mountain

bikes on a protected little trail?

804

:

Or, how how is it it stays?

805

:

I would say it hasn't changed.

806

:

Probably.

807

:

I mean, I was basically,

808

:

I think, the only kid

my age in the whole city.

809

:

You rode a bike like there.

810

:

There were kids outside of LA

in the suburbs, kind of.

811

:

But, yeah, I really felt a bit alone

812

:

in that sense sometimes.

813

:

I'm lucky I grew up on the,

814

:

sort of northwest side of the city,

815

:

so I was pretty close

to, some good riding.

816

:

Like,

I can ride to Malibu from where I grew up

817

:

in, I don't know, an hour

and a half or something.

818

:

And once you get out there,

the riding is honestly amazing.

819

:

But yeah, in the city, I just got used

820

:

to running red lights and dealing with.

821

:

Yeah, massive traffic jams, just swerving

in and out of cars and stuff.

822

:

Maybe that helped me in the peloton

eventually, but

823

:

yeah,

it is an interesting place to grow up.

824

:

I mean,

825

:

yeah, I, I can't even describe it,

you know?

826

:

Well.

827

:

Hey, Sean, thank you for your time today.

828

:

It was great talking to you. Great

getting to know you.

829

:

We wish you all the best

830

:

with not only the tour de

France selection, but as a successful

831

:

Tour de France and successful,

end of the:

832

:

and hope to have you back on the podcast

in the future.

833

:

Yeah. Thank you guys much.

834

:

Appreciate it.

835

:

Good to share with both of you.

836

:

So that's everything for this week now.

837

:

Remember to follow us at Odd Tandem

O D D T A N D E

838

:

M on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook or wherever

you get your favorite podcasts.

839

:

Thanks for Sean Quinn for being our guest.

840

:

And remember,

if you want to see the video version

841

:

of this podcast,

it's up on our YouTube channel right now.

842

:

YouTube.com/@OddTandem.

843

:

And if

844

:

you want a full,

uninterrupted version of this podcast

845

:

and your name in the titles,

just head to our Patreon

846

:

where you can sign up for $5 a month

and keep this podcast going.

847

:

That's patreon.com/oddtandem.

848

:

Our first mailbag

episode will be out on Tuesday.

849

:

So make sure you don't miss out.

850

:

And please keep sending us your questions

851

:

to oddtandem@shockedgiraffe.com

852

:

or any of our Odd

Tandem social media channels.

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About the Podcast

The Odd Tandem Cycling Podcast with Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt
Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt on all things cycling
Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt are back with a brand new cycling podcast. Speaking to the biggest names in the professional peloton and sharing their wisdom from their own careers.